Exploring and Enjoying God’s Word Ezekiel Chapter 26 VERSES 1-6: God speaks out through Ezekiel against Tyre. Tyre was a city in ancient Phoenicia (where Lebanon is today). Tyre dominated the Phoenician states along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea north of Israel. When Israel and Judah were taken into captivity, Tyre rejoiced and planned to take advantage of the situation. God had other plans – He was going to judge Tyre. Ezekiel said that God would use many nations to bring havoc and judgment to this ancient city. This prophecy was fulfilled as Tyre experienced invasions and attacks from Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, the Persians, and the city was completely razed by the Greek leader Alexander the Great, in fulfillment of Verses 4-6. It is sad that Tyre experienced this judgment; under King Hiram, Tyre was actually involved in supporting the building of King David’s palace and King Solomon’s temple and palace. However, in later times, Tyre was a center of the worship of false gods, including Baal, Asherah, and Malqart (a deified version of Hercules). VERSES 7-14: God details the devastating judgment that He would bring on Tyre through the Babylonians. When we reject God, He will judge us. He would much rather show His compassion to us when we ask for forgiveness, but He is perfectly just. While the area around the ancient city of Tyre is occupied, the ancient city has never been rebuilt. VERSES 15-21: God tells Tyre through Ezekiel that their final judgment will be complete. He says that not only will the ancient city be buried, but it would be buried underwater. It is interesting to note that Alexander the Great, when he destroyed ancient Tyre, took the remains of the city to build a causeway from the ancient city to the newer island city, where he seiged it and completely destroyed it as well. These are all examples of God’s judgment of this city that defied Him. The judgment of Tyre stands as a reminder that we need to know the One True God and experience His forgiveness. In the final tribulation period, the entire Christ-rejecting world will experience the kind of judgment that Tyre experienced. Exploring and Enjoying God’s Word Ezekiel 26 | Wednesday, January 17, 2017 PM The areas surrounding Israel at the time of the judgments proclaimed in Ezekiel 25-28. Exploring and Enjoying God’s Word Ezekiel 26 | Wednesday, January 17, 2017 PM .